“She certainly has the right,” Lekhi said when asked to comment on Anna Hazare’s endorsement of Mamata Banerjee as the next Prime Minister .

Interacting with the media as well as business representatives at the Merchants Chamber of Commerce, Lekhi said “Certain political forces are using Anna Hazare for wrongful political gains.”

Asked if the BJP would be willing to offer moratorium on loan repayment burden of the state, as announced by Rajnath Singh February 5 at the Brigade Ground rally, Lekhi said: “I am no one to make any promises. And why should not a BJP government give the moratorium if it makes sense to give protection to states.”

Alleging Congress of indulging in discrimination between states, Lekhi said: “In the federal structure there is need for equitable
distribution.”

After supporting Congress over the passing of Telangana Bill in Parliament, BJP said Saturday the issue of Gorkhaland in West Bengal was not related to Telangana. “The issue of Gorkhaland should not be connected with Telangana. The people of Telangana were deprived although the region contributed the most to the state’s income,” BJP national spokesperson Meenakshi Lekhi said, adding BJP’s support to the Telangana Bill was purely based on administrative reasons and directed to meet the aspirations of the people of the region. PTI